US Pharm. 2013;38(12):6.
Atlanta, GA—According to a CDC analysis of data from the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children’s Health, 6.4 million children in the United States (11% of 4- to 17-year-olds) were reported by their parents to have received an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis from a healthcare provider. This is a 42% increase from 2003-2004. In addition, 7 in 10 children (69%) with a current diagnosis of ADHD were taking medication to treat the disorder, a 28% increase from 2007-2008. Parents also reported that half of children with ADHD were diagnosed by 6 years of age, but children with more severe ADHD tended to be diagnosed earlier. “This finding suggests that there are a large number of young children who could benefit from the early initiation of behavioral therapy,” said Susanna Visser, CDC epidemiologist and lead study author.To comment on this article, contact rdavidson@uspharmacist.com.
